Edgar Rice Burroughs

September 1, 1875 - March 19, 1950

The American author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, published stories in pulp magazines in addition to almost 70 novels spanning a number of genres including fantasy, westerns, historical romance, and, of course, Science Fiction.

Burroughs attended various military academies and was enlisted as a soldier with the 17th U.S. Cavalry until he was diagnosed with a heart problem and discharged. He held a number of odd jobs that provided him with ample spare time to read and write. Burroughs became interested in pulp magazines but was less than impressed with the quality of the stories that he read. As a result, he began to publish his own writing in All-Story and The Argosy magazines. Burroughs found a new calling, abandoned his side jobs, and began to write full time.

Burroughs' first published novel was Tarzan of the Apes, the first novel in what would become one of the most successful series of all time. In fact, Tarzan was such a cultural icon that multiple communities/cities were named after him (e.g., Tarzan, TX). Burroughs continued to write serial novels including the Barsoom Series (John Carter novels) and the Pellucidar Series among others.

Eventually, Burroughs started his own company, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., and printed his own novels. During WWII, he resumed his interest in the military and became one of the oldest war correspondents for the United States. Unfortunately, his heart difficulties also returned, and he died of a heart attack in 1950.